Automatic utensil wrapping machine

ABSTRACT

The automatic utensil wrapping machine is an apparatus for wrapping a napkin around one or more utensils for use as a place setting. The apparatus comprises a housing, a support frame and an assembly of elements mounted to the support frame. The assembly of elements includes a napkin lifting station, a napkin wrapping station, a napkin transfer station, a utensil transfer station, and a napkin folding station. The apparatus wraps each napkin around a predetermined amount of utensils without the need for human contact. The napkins are wrapped by first positioning a stack of napkins on the lifting station, then individually transferring napkins from the lifting station to the wrapping station. The utensils are then transferred from the individual cartridges and placed onto the napkin. Two opposing corners of the napkin are then folded over and the napkin is subsequently wrapped around the utensils.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to equipment for the food service industryand more particularly to an automated device for wrapping utensils in anapkin for use as a place setting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Restaurants and other food service establishments often roll utensilssuch as forks, knives and spoons in napkins before presenting them totheir customers. Rolling the utensils in this manner serves severalpurposes, including enhancing the decor of the table and providing aconvenient way to prepare a table prior to the customers' arrival. Inaddition, rolling the utensils in the napkin provides an easy way forthe servers to handle the utensils without contacting them and therebyensuring that the utensils remain clean. Currently, a napkin must berolled around the utensils one at a time by hand by a waiter, waitressor bus person. This process is time consuming and inefficient. There iscurrently a need to provide a method and apparatus for increasing theefficiency of this process. A number of automatic utensil packagingdevices have been developed in the past in an attempt to reduce the costassociated with wrapping utensils in napkins. Examples of these devicesare disclosed in the following patent documents.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,659,394 issued to Hartleib et al. discloses a method andmachines for wrapping articles. The method and machine involvewithdrawing a sheet of material from a supply reel and leading it intoengagement with an article that is to be wrapped. The article is thenrotated so that the sheet material is wrapped around the article. Themethod and machine are used for wrapping and labeling general articles.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,688 and International Application number WO 97/08052issued to Dunbar et al. disclose a method for wrapping silverware in anapkin. The method and apparatus for automatically wrapping at least oneeating utensil in a napkin includes a receiving area for the utensilsand napkin and a wrapping mechanism. The wrapping mechanism includes aframe, a belt and a belt manipulator. The belt has a first surface thatfrictionally contacts the napkin. A portion of the belt is movable toform a trough in which the napkin and utensil are manipulated and urgedby frictional contact with the belt. The belt urges the napkin and foldsand rolls it, automatically wrapping the utensils.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,908 issued to Vetsch, K.R. discloses a method andapparatus for folding a napkin around an eating utensil. The devicecomprises a housing having a conveyor belt system for advancing thenapkin through the device along a horizontal path. As the napkin passesthrough the device it contacts a folding belt that causes a corner ofthe napkin to be folded back onto it. Pieces of silverware are deliveredfrom storage bins in timed relation to the movement of the napkin andare placed on top of the napkin. The napkins and silverware then contacta rolling belt that rolls the napkin around the silverware. The rollednapkin is transported out of the device and into an external holdingbin.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,023,913 issued to Gray et al. discloses an apparatus andmethod for wrapping silverware within a napkin. The apparatus includes aworktable with an upwardly opening trough for accepting a napkin andsilverware items. The napkin is automatically placed over the trough andsilverware is then directed onto the napkin so that the silverware fallsto the bottom of the trough and positions the napkin between thesilverware and the bottom of the trough. A rotatable blade is positionedwithin the trough for spinning the napkin and silverware until thenapkin is wrapped around the silverware.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0112445 discloses a device forautomatically wrapping eating utensils in a napkin. The device includesa number of hoppers for sortingly holding eating utensils, a tray forholding the napkins, a staging assembly for receiving the napkins fromthe tray and the utensils from the hopper, a wrapping assembly forwrapping the napkin around the utensils and a banding assembly forplacing a band around the wrapped napkin. The device further includes anultraviolet light assembly for sanitizing the utensils while they are inthe hoppers.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0124534 discloses an apparatus andmethod for automatically wrapping silverware in a napkin. The utensilwrapping apparatus includes a utensil-manipulating device for placingthe utensils adjacent a napkin. Two utensil engaging devices areprovided for releasably engaging the ends of the utensils and theportions of the napkins that are adjacent the utensils. The napkin andutensils are held in a fixed relative position. A napkin guide isprovided for wrapping the napkin around the utensils.

European Patent EP 0841247 discloses a device for packing cutlery in aserviette. The serviette is supplied to a conveyor belt that is not aswide as the serviette. At a loading station the cutlery is loaded ontothe serviette. In the packing station of the device, two coaxial windingrollers are set spaced by the length of the cutlery at the sides of thebelt. The looping angle of the rollers can be increased by a guideroller, placed on the belt underside, so that the paper can roll aroundthe winding rollers to enclose the silverware. The rollers are thenraised so the belt stretches. Once the rollers are removed from thewinding body, the paper lies on the belt and is moved to the sideclosing devices to close the ends of the wrapped body.

None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or incombination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thusan automatic silverware wrapping machine solving the aforementionedproblems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The automatic utensil wrapping machine is an apparatus for wrapping anapkin around one or more pieces of utensils for use a place setting.The apparatus comprises a housing, a support frame and an assembly ofelements mounted to the support frame. The assembly of elements includesa napkin lifting station, a napkin wrapping station, a napkin transferstation, a utensil transfer station, and a napkin folding station. Theapparatus wraps each napkin around a predetermined amount of utensilswithout the need for human contact.

The housing has a generally rectangular, hollow structure having anoutput opening, a utensil access and a napkin access disposed on thestructure. The output opening is an open port in the side of the housingthat allows the wrapped napkins to pass out of the apparatus. Theutensil access comprises a door that provides access to the interior ofthe apparatus for loading the apparatus with utensils. The napkin accesscomprises a door that provides access to the interior of the apparatusfor loading the apparatus with napkins. The support frame is positionedinside of the housing and comprises an assembly of vertically orientedbeams and horizontally oriented support rails.

The napkin lifting station receives and supports a stack of napkins. Thenapkins are placed onto the lifting station through the napkin accessdoor. The napkin lifting station includes a platform with a flat top, aplurality of platform supports and a platform lift for incrementallylifting the platform after a predetermined number of napkins are removedfrom the platform. The stack of napkins is supported by the platform. Asnapkins are removed from the top of the stack and the height of thestack is thus decreased, the platform lift raises the platform toaccommodate the decreased stack height. The apparatus is furtherequipped with a napkin stack sensor that alerts the user of theapparatus once the entire stack of napkins has been removed from thelifting station platform.

The napkin wrapping station has a plurality of conveyor belts forwrapping a napkin around a predetermined amount of utensils. The napkinwrapping station has a pair of sidewalls, a horizontally oriented,elongated output conveyor belt disposed between the pair of sidewalls, apair of counter-rotating napkin wrapping belts, a wrapping carriagehaving a plurality of winding rollers, a wrapping carriage shifterassembly and a plurality of actuators for powering the wrapping station.The combination of wrapping belts and winding rollers wrap each napkinaround the predetermined amount of utensils.

The napkin transfer station individually transfers napkins from thelifting station to the wrapping station. The napkin transfer stationcomprises a base plate with a flat bottom and area that is generallyequivalent to the size of the napkins. A plurality of suction devicesare disposed along the bottom surface of the base plate. The suctiondevices are adapted for releasably engaging the napkins. The napkintransfer station also includes a pair of guide rails and a shifterassembly for repositioning the base plate along the guide rails. Oncethe suction devices engage an individual napkin the shifter transferstation raises the napkin and the shifter assembly moves the base platealong the guide rails until the base plate reaches the wrapping station.At this point the suction devices release the napkin onto the wrappingstation.

The utensil transfer station simultaneously places a plurality ofdifferent types of utensils onto each individual napkin while the napkinis positioned on the napkin wrapping station. The utensil transferstation comprises a plurality of cartridges for sortingly storing stacksof utensils. Each cartridge contains a different type of utensil and thenumber of cartridges may vary depending on the amount of differentutensils used. The utensil transfer station further comprises aplurality of lifters for lifting each of the stacks of utensils. Thelifters force the stacks of utensils upwards so one at a time theutensils may be removed from its cartridge. Once the utensil is forcedout of the top of the cartridge a plurality of utensil gripperssimultaneously remove a utensil from each stack of utensils. The utensilgrippers comprise pneumatic grippers having a pair of fingers thatreleasably engage the sides of each utensil. The utensil transferstation also includes a shifter assembly for transporting the utensilsaway from the cartridges, a feed conveyor for receiving the utensils andtransferring them to the napkins on the wrapping station and a bracketfor mounting the utensil transfer station to the support frame.

Finally, the napkin folding station folds over two opposing corners ofthe napkin prior to it being wrapped by the wrapping station. Once theutensils are placed onto the napkin the folding station folds over twocorners of the napkin to cover the utensils. The folding stationcomprises a folding arm, a vacuum lift and a shifter assembly. Thefolding arm has at least one suction device disposed on its bottomsurface for releasably engaging the corners of the napkins. The vacuumlift acts to raise and lower the folding arm into contact with thenapkin. The shifter assembly allows the folding arm to manipulate thecorners of the napkin once they are engaged by the suction device.

According to another aspect of the present there is a method forwrapping a napkin around one or more pieces of utensils. The methodincludes the steps of first positioning a stack of napkins on the napkinlifting station, then individually transferring napkins from the liftingstation to the napkin wrapping station. The different utensils are thentransferred from their individual cartridges and placed on the napkin.Two opposing corners of the napkin are then folded over itself and thenapkin is subsequently wrapped around the utensils.

The napkin transfer step includes releasably engaging the napkinsindividually with the napkin transfer plate and then lifting andcarrying each napkin to the wrapping station. Each individual utensil isremoved from its cartridge by the utensil grippers and transferred tothe utensil feed conveyor. The feed conveyor then transports theutensils to the wrapping station and drops the utensils onto the napkin.Two corners of the napkin are then folded over towards the center of thenapkin by the folding arm. Finally, the counter-rotating wrapping beltsfeed the napkin onto a pair of winding rollers that wrap the napkinaround the utensils. Once the napkin is wrapped the winding rollers arelowered to allow the wrapped napkin to drop onto the exit conveyor beltand exit out of the apparatus.

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide anapparatus and method for wrapping a napkin around eating utensils foruse in the food services industry.

It is another object of the invention to provide an apparatus and methodfor wrapping a napkin around utensils that does not require humanhandling of the utensils.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus andmethod of wrapping a napkin around utensils that is fully automated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod of wrapping a napkin around utensils that improves restaurantefficiency by allowing food servers to concentrate on other tasks whilethe apparatus automatically wraps all of the utensils in napkins.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof for the purposes described which is inexpensive,dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an automatic utensilwrapping machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a right side perspective view of the utensil wrapping machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the interior framework of the utensilwrapping machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior assembly of the utensilwrapping machine.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the assembly of elements of theutensil wrapping machine with the framework removed.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the assembly of the utensilwrapping machine with the framework removed.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the assembly of the utensil wrapping machine.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a napkin lifting station.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a utensil transfer station.

FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of a cartridge for the utensiltransfer station with its front wall removed.

FIG. 11 is a top perspective view of a napkin wrapping station.

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view of the napkin wrapping station withits front wall removed.

FIG. 13 is a front functional view of the napkin wrapping station.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the napkin wrapping station.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the napkin folding station.

FIG. 16 is a top view of a napkin with utensils disposed thereon.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the napkin transfer station.

FIG. 18 a top perspective view of a feed conveyor.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is an apparatus for wrapping a napkin around oneor more utensils for use as a place setting. The apparatus will becommonly used in the food service industry for automating the process ofpreparing utensil table settings by providing an apparatus and method ofwrapping the utensils without the need for human involvement. Theapparatus generally comprises an exterior housing, an interior frameworkand an assembly of parts disposed on the framework for receiving andwrapping the napkins around one or more utensils. FIGS. 1 and 2 depictenvironmental, perspective views of the automatic utensil wrappingmachine 10. The exterior of the wrapping machine 10 comprise a generallyrectangular, hollow housing 20. The housing 20 may be made from anymaterial with suitable durability to protect the interior elements ofthe wrapping machine 10 that are contained inside of the housing 20.According to the preferred embodiment of the wrapping machine 20, thehousing 20 is made from stainless steel.

A plurality of openings are disposed along the housing 20. An outputopening 22 is disposed on a first side of the housing 20. The outputopening 22 is adapted to allow wrapped utensils to exit the wrappingmachine 10 and drop down to a holding area. A utensil access assembly 30is disposed on the front of the housing 20. The utensil access assembly30 comprises a door 32, a door frame 36, a plurality of hinges 38 and ahandle 34. The door 32 may be opened to gain access to the interior ofthe wrapping machine 10. The door 32 is adapted to allow utensils to beloaded into the wrapping machine 10. While the wrapping machine 10 is inuse the door 32 remains closed to prevent contact with the moving partsinside of the housing 20.

FIG. 2 displays an additional opening, the napkin access assembly 40.The napkin access assembly 40 comprises a door 42, a door frame 46, aplurality of hinges 48 and a handle 44. Similar to the utensil accessassembly 30, the door 42 may be opened to gain access to the interior ofthe wrapping machine 10. The door 42 is adapted to allow napkins to beloaded into the wrapping machine 10. While the wrapping machine 10 is inuse the door 42 remains closed to prevent contact with the moving partsinside of the housing 20.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the interior framework 50 of thewrapping machine 10. The framework 50 is positioned on the interior ofthe housing 20 and supports the assembly of parts used for wrapping thenapkins and utensils. The framework 50 comprises a plurality ofinterconnected, vertically oriented beams 52 and horizontally orientedsupport rails 54. The framework 50 may be made from any material thatwill provide suitable strength to support the assembly of parts of thewrapping machine 10. According to the preferred embodiment of thepresent wrapping machine 10, the framework 50 is made from steelstructural tubing.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the framework 50 with the assemblyof parts of the wrapping machine 10 disposed on the framework 50. Theassembly of parts of the wrapping machine 10 work in conjunction withone another in assembly line format to wrap each individual napkinaround one or more utensils. The assembly of parts comprises a napkinlifting station 60, a napkin transfer station 70, a napkin foldingstation 80, a feed conveyor 90, a utensil transfer station 100 and anapkin wrapping station 110. FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of theassembly of parts of the wrapping machine 10 with the framework 50removed to better depict how each part is interconnected. The napkinlifting station 60 is connected to the napkin transfer station 70, whichis then connected to the napkin wrapping station 110. The napkin foldingstation 80 is secured to the framework 50, directly above the napkinwrapping station 110, by a folding station support 56 (shown in FIG. 4).The feed conveyor 90 is also positioned above the wrapping station 110.Finally, the utensil transfer station 100 is positioned along side ofthe wrapping station 110.

FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the napkin lifting station 60. Thenapkin lifting station 60 is adapted to receive and support a stack ofnapkins. Preferably, cloth napkins are used with the wrapping machine10, but any type of napkin, including but not limited to paper napkins,may also be used with the wrapping machine 10. As shown in FIG. 4, thenapkin lifting 60 is aligned with the napkin access assembly 40 so thata stack of napkins may be placed on the napkin lifting station 60through the napkin door 42. The napkin lifting station 60 comprises aplatform 61, having a generally square, flat top 62, a plurality ofsupports 64, a plurality of gear racks 62 and a shifter assembly 68.

The napkin lifting station 60 is configured according to the size of thenapkin being used. The stack of napkins are placed on the top surface 62of the platform 61. The platform 61 is oriented so that the napkins areturned 45 degrees to the wrapping station 110.

The shifter assembly 68 operates to adjust the height of the stack ofnapkins by raising or lowering the platform 61. The shifter assembly 68preferably uses a compressed air cylinder to incrementally lift or lowerthe platform 61. The compressed air cylinder uses a five-three waycontrol valve to initiate the raising of the platform 61. Once apredetermined number of napkins are removed from the stack, the aircylinder raise the platform 61 to adjust the height of the napkin stackaccordingly. This ensures that a napkin will always be available for thewrapping process. The lifting platform may additionally comprise asensor that will activate a “napkins out” display on the housing 20 ofthe wrapping machine 10 to signal that the stack of napkins has run outand needs to be replaced. The sensor is preferably an IR sensor, but isnot limited in this manner and any suitable sensor may be used.

FIG. 17 depicts a perspective view of the napkin transfer station 70.The napkin transfer station 70 transports napkins from the napkinlifting station 60 to the napkin wrapping station 110. The napkintransfer station 70 comprises a base plate 72, an adapter 76, a shifterassembly 78, a pair of guide rails 79 and a plurality of air cylinders73. The shifter assembly 78 is similar to the shifter assembly on thelifting station 60. The shifter assembly 78 slidably repositions thebase plate 72 along the guide rails 79 from the napkin lifting station60 to the wrapping station 110. The air cylinders 73 are also compressedair cylinders that raise and lower the napkin base plate 72 into contactwith the stack of napkins. The adapter 76 is a connector piece thatmounts the napkin lifting station 70 to the framework 50.

FIG. 7 depicts a bottom view of the wrapping machine 10. The bottomsurface 74 of the base plate 72 is shown. The base plate 72 has a flatbottom 74 with an area that is generally equivalent to the size of thenapkins. A plurality of suction devices 120 are disposed along thebottom surface 74 of the base plate 72. The position of the suctiondevices 120 may be adjusted to fit varying sized napkins. The suctiondevices 120 are preferably cup shaped and operate by creating vacuumsuction to engage the napkin. Once a napkin is delivered by the napkinlifting station 60 the transfer station 70 lowers and the suctiondevices 120 engage the napkin. Once the napkin is engaged, the transferstation 70 raises the napkin. The shifter assembly 78, which ispreferably a compressed air cylinder controlled by limiting sensors,extends to slide the base plate 72 along the guide rails 79. This actiondelivers the napkin to the wrapping station 110. Once the napkin istransported to the wrapping station 110 the suction devices 120 releasethe napkin by terminating their vacuum suction and the napkin is placedonto the wrapping station 110.

While the napkin lifting station 60 and the napkin transfer station 70are active, the utensil transfer station 100 is also operating. FIG. 9depicts a perspective view of the utensil transfer station 100. Theutensil transfer station 100 comprises a plurality of utensil grippers101, a pair of guide rails 105, a mounting bracket 106, a shifterassembly 108, a plurality of utensil lifters 104 and a plurality ofutensil storing cartridges 130. The utensil transfer station 100operates to deliver the utensils to the feed conveyor 90. As shown inFIG. 4, the utensil transfer station 100 is aligned with the utensilaccess assembly 30 so that utensils U may added to the transfer station100 through the access door 32. The cartridges 130 may be removed fromthe housing 20 and then loaded with utensils U. Once loaded, thecartridges 130 are replaced into the utensil transfer station 100through the utensil access door 32.

The cartridges 130 comprise front and back walls 132, side walls 136, abottom surface 134 and an open top 138. FIG. 10 depicts a frontperspective view of an individual cartridge 130 with its front wall 132removed to reveal its interior 139. Each cartridge 130 sortingly storesa stack of utensils U. The utensils U are stacked horizontally, one ontop of the other. Each cartridge 130 stores an different type of utensilU so the number of cartridges 130 depends on the number of differenttypes of utensils U used in the place setting. In the preferredembodiment of the wrapping machine 10 each cartridge stores 50 utensilsU, but the cartridges are not limited to storing this number of utensilsU. Any type of utensil, including but not limited to silverware,stainless steel and plastic, may be used with the wrapping machine 10.

The utensil lifters 104 simultaneously lift utensils U, one at a time,out of the top opening 138 of the cartridges 130. The lifters 104 havecompressed air cylinders that control the raising of the utensils U. Thelifters 104 push the utensils U the top of the cartridges using afive-three way valve to initiate each incremental rise of the stack ofutensils U. The cartridges 130 may also comprise a sensor that activatesa “cartridge empty” signal to alert the users of the wrapping machine 10that the utensils U need to be replaced.

The utensil grippers 101 engage the utensils U when they are pushed outof the top opening 138 of the cartridges 130. The plurality of grippers101 simultaneously engage one utensil U from each of the cartridges 130.The utensil grippers 101 comprise a pair of pneumatic fingers 102 thatengage each of the utensils U by gripping the utensils U on either sideand pinching the utensil U to secure it between the pneumatic fingers102. Once the utensil grippers 101 engage the utensils U the utensilgrippers 101 are raised and the shifter assembly 108 simultaneouslytransports the grippers 101 along the guide rails 105 until they areabove the feed conveyor 90. The utensil grippers 101 release theutensils U onto the feed conveyor 90 and the shifter assembly 103returns the grippers back to their original position.

FIG. 18 depicts a perspective view of the feed conveyor 90. The feedconveyor 90 comprises a conveyor belt 92 that is driven by a motor 94.The feed conveyor 90 is positioned above the wrapping station 110. Thefeed conveyor 90 receives the utensils U from the utensil transferstation 100 and then delivers them to the napkin positioned on thewrapping station 110.

FIG. 15 depicts a perspective view of the folding station 80. Thefolding station 80 operates to fold over two opposing corners on thenapkin prior to it being wrapped by the wrapping station 110. Thefolding station 80 comprises a folding arm 82, a shifter assembly 81,and a vacuum lift 85. Referring to FIG. 7, a suction device 86 isdisposed on the bottom surface 84 of the folding arm 82. The suctiondevice 86 is identical to the suction devices 120 found on the napkintransfer station 70.

The shifter assembly 81 and the vacuum lift 85 are both compressed aircylinders that control the movement of the folding arm 82. The vacuumlift 85 raises and lowers the arm 82, while the shifter assembly 81extends the arm 82. FIG. 16 demonstrates the operation of the foldingarm 82. The shifter assembly 81 moves the folding arm 82 to the nearestnapkin corner C. The folding arm 82 then lowers until the suction device86 engages the napkin N. The folding arm 82 extends across the napkin Nuntil it activates a first fold sensor that causes the suction toterminate and the first fold of the napkin N is completed. The foldingarm 82 then extends across the napkin N to the second corner C and thearm 82 lowers to engage the napkin N. The folding arm 82 then moves backacross the napkin N until it reaches the second fold sensor, whichterminates suction and completes the second fold. As shown in FIG. 16two opposing corners C of the napkin have now been folded over towardsthe utensils U in the center of the napkin N.

FIGS. 11-14 depict varying views of the napkin wrapping station 110. Thenapkin wrapping station 110 comprises a front wall 112, a back wall 111,a pair of counter-rotating top wrapping belts 140,141, an exit conveyor114 and plurality of motors for operating the wrapping station 110. Whenthe napkin N is placed onto the wrapping station each of the unfoldedcorners of the napkin N rest on one of the two wrapping belts 140,141with the center of the napkin N and the utensils U resting in the gapbetween the two belts 140, 141.

FIG. 12 depicts a front perspective view of the wrapping station 110with the front wall 112 removed to reveal the interior elements of thewrapping station 110. Exit conveyor motor 116 and wrapping belts motor142 are shown at either end of the wrapping station 110. The wrappingstation 110 further comprises a winding carriage having a first windingroller 146 and a second winding roller 148 and a winding carriageshifter 144 positioned underneath the winding rollers 146, 148. FIG. 14depicts a side view of the wrapping station 110 further depicting thearrangement of the plurality of belts and rollers. FIG. 14 depicts thegears 145 and the belt roller 143 that operate the counter-rotatingwrapping belts 140, 141.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 a method is disclosed for wrapping a napkin Naround one or more utensils U. Prior to activating the wrapping machine10, a stack of napkins N is placed onto the napkin lifting station 60.The napkins N are passed through the napkin access door 42 and onto theplatform 61 of the lifting station 60. Also, the cartridges 130 from theutensil transfer station 100 are removed from the housing 20 and filledwith the different types of utensils U being used. Once filled thecartridges 130 are place onto the utensil transfer station 100 throughthe utensil access door 32.

Napkins N are then individually removed from the lifting station 60 bythe napkin transfer station 70. The napkin transfer station 70 lowers sothat the suction devices 120 disposed along the bottom surface 74 of thebase plate 72 can engage the napkins N. The napkin transfer station 70rises and transports the napkin N to the napkin wrapping station 110. Atthe napkin wrapping station 110 the transfer station 70 lowers, thesuction devices 120 release the napkin N onto the wrapping belts 140,141of the wrapping station 110, and the transfer station 70 returns to itsoriginal position.

While the napkin lifting station 60 and the napkin transfer station 70are active, the utensil transfer station 100 is transporting utensils Uto the feed conveyor (shown in FIG. 6). The lifters 104 push theutensils U out of the top opening 138 of the cartridges 130 where theutensils U are engaged by the utensil grippers 101. The utensil grippers101 carry the utensils U to the feed conveyor 90 and release them ontothe belt 92. The belt 92 then delivers the utensils U to the wrappingstation 110 and deposits the utensils U onto the napkin N. The napkin Nis then wrapped around the utensils U by the assembly of wrapping belts140, 141 and winding rollers 146, 148 of the wrapping station 110.

FIG. 13 is a front schematic view of the wrapping station 110 depictingits functional aspects. The napkin N is positioned across the gapbetween the two wrapping belts 140, 141. The utensils U are positionedin the center of the napkin N. The counter-rotation of the belts 140,141feeds the unfolded ends of the napkin N down towards the first andsecond winding rollers 146, 148, which are both rotating in the samedirection. The arrows shown in FIG. 13 depict the direction of rotationof the belts and rollers and the direction in which the napkin N ismoving through the wrapping station. As the napkin N is lowered belowthe wrapping belts 140, 141 the winding rollers 146, 148 roll the napkinN so that is completely wraps itself around the utensils U. Once thenapkin N is wrapped around the utensils U the carriage shifter 144lowers the winding rollers 146,148 so that the napkin N drops down ontothe exit conveyor 114. The napkin then travels along the exit conveyor114 to its output end 118 (shown in FIG. 12) and are delivered out ofthe housing 20. The second winding roller 148 is then lifted back to itsoriginal position.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A method of wrapping a napkin around one or moreutensils, said method comprising the steps of: positioning a stack ofnapkins on a napkin lifting station; individually transferring napkinsfrom said lifting station to a napkin wrapping station; transferring aplurality of utensils from a plurality of utensil storage cartridges tosaid napkin wrapping station and positioning the utensils on the napkin;folding two opposing comers of the napkin over itself; and wrapping thenapkin around the utensils.
 15. The method according to claim 14 whereinsaid napkin transfer step includes releasably engaging the napkinsindividually with a napkin transfer plate having a plurality of suctiondevices disposed on its bottom surface and then lifting and carryingeach napkin to said napkin wrapping station.
 16. The method according toclaim 14 wherein said utensils transfer step includes gripping anindividual utensil from each of said utensil storage cartridges andtransporting them to a utensil feeding conveyor belt that transfers theutensils onto a napkin positioned on the napkin wrapping station. 17.The method according to claim 14 wherein said wrapping step includesplacing the napkin across a gap between adjacent, counter-rotatingwrapping belts that feed the napkin onto a pair of winding rollers thatroll the napkin around the utensils and then once the napkin is rolled,lowering the winding rollers so the napkin falls onto an exit conveyorand exits said napkin wrapping station.
 18. The method according toclaim 17, further including the step of transporting the wrapped napkinsalong said exit conveyor through an output opening.